Eddy Lines  By John Lane

Sort of an impromptu survey here...

We had a meeting with the Columbus Swim Center folks to talk about continued use of that facility without modifying our use too much. We may have an opportunity to have a schedule change - say to late Sunday afternoon. We plan on increasing roll session fees to $5/$7 this year.

Pursuant to our planning meeting last week, we will be focusing on increasing intermediate level whitewater trips. As these and other trips depend on having enough leaders available to run things, we will also be working on developing new leaders. This would be a good point to say that a leader <my view> is more of a manager than an expert. In other words, you don't have to be a class V paddler to be a boat trip leader. We plan to offer a leader class over the winter and early spring that will encompass risk management, first aid, rescue and COP's version of leader training. My plan is also to have graduates lead a boating trip for COP as part of the training - paired with an experienced leader/mentor. So, if you want to lead or mentor, let me know.

One school that we don't have a leader for is the River Canoe School. This moving water school is an important part of our canoe instruction offering. Ann Fallon did a great job with this last year but she's planning on moving up north and will be unavailable. Again, this is a manager position that lots of other folks help turn into a worthwhile class. Please contact me if you can fill this important role.

We are working on a deadline (11/22) to submit our release requests for next year. As we need to substantiate our requests with instructional/educational functions, it would help to have folks step up to cover offerings for these releases. Generally, Pleasant Hill, Paint Creek Lake, Alum Creek and Caesar Creek reservoirs have been our targets but Dillon exists as another possibility. Rules are one request per month per region.

Lastly, I am putting together a sort of board of directors for COP boating. The intent is to create a group that will be dedicated to setting and attaining goals for COP boating. The group would include the following positions, most of which are already filled:

• Yough Stop Manager - Paul McPherson 
• Equipment Manager - Kevin Gagnon 
• Boating Chair - John Lane 
• Kayak Director - Sharon Hsu 
• Canoe Director - open 
• Leader Training Director - Mike Wadkowski 
• Data Manager - Doug Miller 
• Ed. Media Manager - Mark Steinmetz 

The basic functions would be to make sure our equipment and instruction are up to par, leader identification and development happens and adequate functions are planned for the membership. I'd like to have a volunteer to fill the canoe director slot and would welcome a couple other folks to sit at large on this council. I'm thinking quarterly meetings or so. Thanks.
 

Do You Know Paul McPherson?

Here's the scoop on Paul: He was born in Pittsburgh and moved to Columbus in 1972. He worked at Sun TV for many years as their advertising photographer. Since Sun caved, he has started his own business doing commercial photography as well as weddings and portraits. He is handy with a paint brush (you may remember him as a paint-spattered boat shed volunteer in an earlier newsletter) as well as a shutter. Paul and wife, Darcy, have enjoyed four years of wedded bliss. They both paddle but the third family member is a reluctant paddler and spoiled rotten cocker spaniel.

Paul came to COP two years ago as a floundering C1 boater and has evolved into a more experienced floundering C1 boater. A quote, "I am very impressed with the caliber of paddlers that belong to COP. Without their guidance I would not have developed the skill or confidence to paddle many of the rivers I have. "Darcy is in grad school. Paul has tried to convince her on many a Friday evening with paddling gear in hand, that he was going boating for the weekend in an effort to give her a quiet uninterrupted study environment (a testament to what a sensitive 90's kind of guy he is). To which she rolls her eyes and invariably replies with an "Uh-huh, be careful and have fun." When he returns tired and stiff on Sunday evening, she is always ready to greet him with a smile and a handful of ibuprophen. What more could a paddler want? What more could a group want than to have a guy like Paul on hand to tap for schools, trips and roll sessions? Paul has taken over from Eric Gehres as the Yough Stop manager and they put together a successful work trip last month with Kevin Gagnon to put up the winter coat of plastic, install the new stove, remove the old portable toilets and install new port-a-pot number one. Now you know Paul McPherson.
 

1999 Fall Basic Kayak Clinic - Follow-up

A big CONGRATS goes out to the graduates of the last COP kayak school of the millennium! The Basic Kayak Clinic was held October 23 & 24 at Alum Creek State Park and the Mad River. What a bunch of troopers we had! Saturday brought cloudy skies, light drizzle, strong winds, and temperatures in the low 40's. And yet, all 17 students showed up with wetsuits and warm hats in-hand, eager to learn the basics of river kayaking. A bigger surprise came on Sunday morning when the students came back!

Participating students were Alicia Amoss, John Amoss, Anne Baird, Tony Celebrezze, Mike Cornwell, Vickie Lee Deisner, Maera Flynn, Keith Gromen, Jim Maurer, Karen Nemcek, Valerie Pedersen, Jen Marie Raven, Lorrie Rogers, Barb Rowe-Smith, Curt Wright, and Nickie Zimmerman. If you happen to see them at roll sessions or on trips, make sure to say 'hi' and congrats for a job well done (and for braving the weather!!). Hopefully we will see them again on trips and at our other schools.

A HUGE THANK YOU goes out for those souls who braved the weather alongside the students. A debt of gratitude is extended to our instructors and safety boaters: Bruce & Liz Adamczak, Neil Baker, Jon Blake, Deb Clayton, Bill Kroll, and Butch Weaver. A special thanks goes out to Dave Seslar for instructing (again), towing the trailer (again), and helping me out with the school (again).
 

Mike Wadkowski

Mike Wadkowski has spent at least three-quarters of his life serving on the AYH / COP Executive Board. He will be stepping down at the end of this term. However, he is not leaving the activities that he loves in COP. It is a time perhaps to step back and have some fun. I think of him as a gifted canoeist with a lot of natural ability, and that if he hadn't been so involved with helping everyone else, he could have competed and done very, very well. Thanks also Mike for your unfailing sense of humor." "p.s. if you can keep that old van going for hundreds of thousands of miles until it was more rust than steel, you can do most anything." Julie Schmitt

"Since I have been a member of COP only 2 full years, I don't know that much about Mike W. But during that time I have seen that his trips are the best and he is the best open boater I've seen in a long time. Take care and keep the cockpit side up," Bill Kroll

"When I broke my arm at intermediate school in '89 Michael put me in the middle of a Blue Hole (after taking out the floatation). He was in the stern and Kevin in the bow. I thought for sure I would drown (since my arm was tied to me with a flannel shirt and I was sitting Indian-style in the middle of the boat) but Michael told me "I PROMISE you we won't swim". Needless to say, the three of us sank the canoe and we swam. I NEVER trust him when he says that to anyone!!!!  Often I'll ask Michael how to run a rapid, his favorite answer is "Stay upright, point down stream and avoid rocks and holes". Ya know, that's a good one to paddle by." Eileen Troutman

"One thing I like about Mike W. is his charming humility. He is so unassuming. For my wedding present, he made this elaborate and beautiful cutting board made out of several different kinds of wood. It really is an heirloom now. When we had unwrapped it, we "ooohed" and "Aaaahed" over the quality and workmanship he must have put into it. When we turned it over to see if he had carved his signature in it, we saw that instead he had simply taken a magic marker and scrawled his and Kitty's name on it! We laughed so hard when we saw that! Only Mike would think so little of the importance of his signature on something so wonderful .... that he would use something akin to a crayon to sign it! He's a great guy! The other thing that impresses me is his dedication to his family. I've never seen anyone with so much commitment to his parents. He showed the same commitment as Boating Chair and I, for one, am extremely grateful." Pam Boe

"The greatest compliment I have for Mike Wadkowski is that Kitty told me he's a good husband. if he can do as much as he has for COP and still rate that, he's doing well." Jon Blake

"What can I say about Mike?! First of all, he was very dedicated and hardly ever missed a meeting. Second, he contributed extensively to some very key initiatives not the least of which were the Legal Task Force, throughout our disaffiliation discussions, and second to the development and leadership of the Risk Management program." Liz Seely

"Michael is the kind of guy you want to be around. COP is lucky he has been around as long as he has. First of all, he is pleasant and nice. In my book, that's damn important. He has nearly a genetic memory of our organization. He's quite smart and lends that quality to board meetings when we're trying to reinvent the wheel or embark on something unsavory. He has a supersonic volunteer whistle that draws people in before they realize what has happened. He is a patient and creative instructor. Many of our members can show off skills from his tutelage. I hope I've said enough true and good things to keep this truly good guy involved in our program." John Lane
 

Come In, Come In … Wherever You Are!

Doug Miller has volunteered to do an inventory of the boating equipment this month. I would like to request that any boating gear stashed in basements, pickups, etc., be returned to the boat shed as soon as possible. Please return kayak gear to Bruce Adamczak.

On a separate gear note, COP now owns three kayaks sized for kids. We purchased these in response to requests from parents and at the direction of the COP Board wanting to ensure younger COP members' participation. We're still in the process of figuring out paddles and spray skirts but that should be squared away by the time pool sessions start in January.
 

An Afternoon at the Darby   by Jim Shaffer

Volunteers from COP helped present Darby Creek Day, along with staff and volunteers from The Darby Creek Association and Franklin County Metro Parks. The event was held on Sunday October 2nd. As you read in the October newsletter, efforts to expand the park into a National Wildlife Refuge are continuing, and on a number of levels.

It was a perfect Fall day, the park big and beautiful, and it was a great day to be outside. A large number of people agreed. Tim Taylor, the Metro Parks Coordinator, indicated that about 1,200 visitors attended the event. Many other organizations participated in the day's activities, including The Audubon Society, Girl Scouts, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Wildlife Center.

For our part, we manned an information booth and conducted kayak demonstrations in the creek, along with Metro Park volunteers, who were doing the same with canoes For a good portion of the afternoon, people were lined up to take a spin in a canoe or kayak. The information booth near the front of the Darby Day Tour gave us good opportunities to talk about COP and distribute newsletters and fliers.

Thanks to all our volunteers who gave their Sunday to this event. They are Monica Bluestein, Mike and Katie Dick, Stanley Gift, John and Lori Markiel, Jim Nemcek and Nicki Zimmerman. John and Katie demonstrated the Eskimo roll and all helped provide so many people their first experience in a canoe or kayak. While everyone donated time, John also gave up some equipment. You may have wondered if helmets float. Well, John was also curious, and executed a perfect roll with his helmet unsnapped. It did float, for about 5 seconds, then gulped and sank into about 6 feet of water.

I believe this was our first time participating in this event, and hope we can do it again. It was a great opportunity to demonstrate support for the park, introduce people to Columbus Outdoor Pursuits and provide an opportunity for kids of all ages to try out a canoe or kayak.

Thanks again to our volunteers.

Do Know You - Sharon Hsu?

She has been a member of COP since 1995 and began paddling in 1997. Her first introduction to our waters was the Fall Basic Canoe School. The following spring found her in a kayak and she's been there ever since. This year she bought two boats. Who would have seen that one coming since she thought she'd never get out of the AQII (read big and stable) and into anything more performance oriented.  The boats got paid for courtesy of her ability to sit for hours in front of a computer and write programs.

I hope she doesn't burn out on volunteering quite yet. This year was a big one for Sharon - and COP boating from her efforts. She lead whitewater trips this spring on the Lower Yough and a kayaking school in Pennsylvania this summer. You'll see her this month with yet another effort, a kayaking clinic on Caesar Creek.  Sharon, through her volunteer efforts and with the generous support of Nationwide Insurance was able to gift COP boating with a $200 check. That will go towards picking up some new K paddles.

When you see her on the river - or even dry land - say “hello” to the smile that is Sharon Hsu!
 

1999 Intermediate Kayak School   by Sharon Hsu

A big CONGRATS goes out for the graduates of the 1999 Intermediate Kayak School! The school was held July 23-25 on the beautiful Youghiogheny River in southwest Pennsylvania. A total of 11 students and 8 instructors braved the raging whitewater in fine style! What may have been lacking in skill and experience in some of the students, was more than made up for in motivation. Though we had a few swims, some wet faces, and lots of pounding hearts, it was a good weekend, and fun was had by all. Participating students were Jonathan Kesler, Jim Wallace, Michelle Marsh, Julie Pigg, John Markiel, Steve Doss, Andy Valley, Tim Werner, Petra vonKulajta, Sharon Heidtman, and Chris Russell. If you see them on the water or at roll sessions, say hi and give them a pat on the back for a job well done. Hopefully, we will see these new faces on more of our trips! A HUGE thank you goes out to the instructors who gave up a weekend and volunteered their time and energy teaching our students the finer points of whitewater kayaking. A debt of gratitude is extended to Dave Seslar, Bruce Adamczak, Doug Miller, Susan Brauning, Mark Stiving, Carol Stiving, Deborah Clayton, and Butch Weaver. Thanks is also extended to our Sunday “rescue” boaters - Joe Coler, Scott Wake, and Erin Jenkins -and to Lori Markiel for lending a hand and making my job at the Yough Stop that much easier.
 

Fall Releases and Schools

COP has applied for releases from three reservoirs this fall and these requests were granted. The Army Corps of Engineers will have the final say approximately one week before the releases are made. Given the spring and summer rainfall levels so far, there is some potential for these releases to be canceled.

The ODNR acts as a liaison between the ACE and release requestors. The ODNR policy is essentially to release no water unless justified by a training or other educational activity that will utilize the release. Because of this, we need to develop activities for these fall releases to justify getting the water and maintain a good relationship with the ODNR.

The Clear Fork of the Mohican is class 1+-II at this water level and runs through a picturesque valley full of sandstone and hemlocks before flattening out into park land.  Caesar Creek runs for sub-4 miles through a less-interesting valley before becoming confluent with the Miami.  It is class II at this level with quite a few eddies and occasional small wave trains. Neither river has much in the way of objective dangers except for the occasional strainer that is easily avoided. Paint Creek is II-III at this level and could be utilized on its own or we could purchase a release on Rocky Fork Creek for the same time period and utilize a longer stretch of water for an activity. Objective danger is low for this run.

Currently (no pun intended) Sharon Hsu and Dave Seslar are planning a kayak school for the Caesar Creek release and Keith Finn is planning a cold-weather paddling seminar for the Paint Creek release. Jon Blake will head up a solo canoe seminar on Caesar Creek. Please respond to him if you are able to help with that. Look for information on the other classes in this newsletter.
 

Thumb Thing Good

The opposable thumb is one thing that differentiates us from the “lower apes”. Michigan has a “thumb”, that along with having the greatest amount of coastline and golf courses of any state, distinguishes it from the rest of the US.  If you look at a Michigan State map, you'll see that the Lower Peninsula looks much like a mittened left hand, the thumb separating Saginaw Bay from the rest of Lake Huron. What follows is a “where we went, what we did” tale from a recent visit to the Thumb.

Joan and I had wanted to take a sea kayak class for some time but it didn't work out until this August. We hooked up with Great River Outfitters, a Detroit-area group, to take a one-day sea kayak class. The location was Port Austin, Michigan. Port Austin is located at the tip of the thumb, about two hours north of Detroit. This old port town is a mix of old and new, with condos crowding in on the fringes and historic inns and restaurants standing proud in the downtown. We stayed in the Garfield Inn (circa 1875), a former residence and well-appointed bit of history with six B & B rooms and an oak-paneled pub on the ground floor. When President Garfield was mortally wounded by an assassin’s bullet, he asked to be taken to Port Austin to recover. Seems he had a close relationship with a woman in the family that owned the home. Good thing they didn't have Kenneth Starr back then. The whole county reeks of history. Lumbering and then farming settled the thumb area. A blaze in 1913 burned much of the peninsula and blanketed Lake Huron with smoke for more than a week. The area has seen its share of weather, too. In the early 1900’s, a sixteen-hour gale sent dozens of ships and hundreds of sailors to the bottom.

The early fall countryside was quite pleasant, with soybean leaves drying in chartreuse shades and acres of sugar beets and dairy cattle pasture. Several operating lighthouses dot the shore and various industries call the thumb home. Grindstone City supplied much of the region with grindstones until the 1930’s and many of these can be seen on the beach and various locations throughout the town. If you go to the thumb, check out the mural in Harbor Beach. It covers the side of a large municipal building and took three summers to complete. The impressive mural tells the story of the settling of the area to present day and shows off progress and prominent citizens.

The big reason to go to the Thumb is the warm, clear waters of Lake Huron. Our sea kayak class gave us a good look at the lake. After our instructors James and Carl gave us a brief introduction to the boats and the basic strokes, we set off for the Port Austin Reef Light, about two miles off the coast. From the light, we paddled down the coast and had lunch on the sand in Alaska Bay in front of a row of old-money summer homes. After lunch, we took a closer look at Turnip Island and Pointe aux Barques (see accompanying photos) before heading back to the Port Austin beach. Before leaving the water, we practiced draws, braces, brace turns and water rescues. Then it was time for debriefing, good-byes and dinner!

If you are interested in the area, a couple URL’s to check out are: www.huroncounty.com for the thumb area & www.erols.com/rapids/GRO for Great River Outfitters &  www.GarfieldInn.com for the Garfield Inn.
 

A National Wildlife Refuge for Central Ohio's Little Darby Creek?

Perhaps you've cycled on the rural roads of Madison County, or paddled along the less-developed banks of the Big Darby or Little Darby Creeks west of Columbus. But as you've probably observed, Columbus’ growth and sprawl is extending further in this direction each year, steadily changing the nature of the Darby Creek watersheds.

The Nature Conservancy recognizes the Big Darby and Little Darby Creeks as one of the world’s Last Great Places. The area is known to naturalists, governments, environmental organizations and outdoor enthusiasts as among our most ecologically valuable. So is there anything that might protect these attractive watersheds from development and environmental degradation? Over the past year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a concept to allow some Central Ohio farmland to revert back to its natural state as a National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge would pass within one mile of the long-range plan to extend Hilliard’s Heritage Rail Trail all the way to Urbana.

The area under study for a new National Wildlife Refuge lies in the watershed of the Little Darby Creek in northwestern Madison and southern Union Counties. A refuge would restore native oak, prairie and wetlands habitats, as well as protect migratory waterfowl, endangered species and the Little Darby Creek itself. It would provide recreation opportunities including hiking, bird watching and environmental education. The area includes 20-25,000 acres for the refuge, with an additional 21-25,000 acres that would be a farmland preservation area, where development would be restricted, but farmers could still work their land. Land will be bought only from willing sellers.

At this writing, the refuge is simply under study; there is not yet an official plan to proceed. This fall, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to release a draft environmental assessment to address the various impacts of the refuge and to solicit public comment. A final assessment could be ready in early 2000.

Ohio environmental groups are supporting the Refuge proposal. The Ohio Environmental Council, the Columbus Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, the Darby Creek Association and many others support the concept. They note that Ohio ranks 47th of 50 states in per capita public land, while Ohio currently has only one other National Wildlife Refuge. On July 26, Columbus City Council unanimously passed a resolution endorsing and supporting the establishment of the Darby Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Organized opposition, mostly in Madison County, includes CARP - Citizens Against the Refuge Proposal.

This proposed refuge is at an important stage in the planning process. Public comment will help legislators determine whether there is enough support to proceed. If you would like to express your opinion on the Refuge proposal, write to:
1.The Honorable Bob Taft, Governor - State of Ohio, 77 South High St., 30th Floor, Columbus, OH  43215-6117;
2. Senator George Voinovich and Senator Mike DeWine, 37 W. Broad, Room 970, Columbus OH 43215.

Do You Know John Lane?

I spent years on the outside looking in at then-AYH and finally joined about four years ago - seems like much more. Took a Basic Canoe Class followed by River Canoe School the next spring and then did a couple trips. I got sucked in to manage the boat shed gear and then plopped into the vacant seat for boating chair when nobody else would.

Professionally, I've been a registered nurse for six years and work in surgical intensive care at OSU Medical Center. I have a great wife and a nice little house near Grandview. Our motto is: No kids, no pets, no houseplants. That has worked out well for us!

Recreationally, I've done mountaineering, rock climbing, snow skiing, scuba diving, caving, cycling, backpacking and canoeing. The photo above is a bit misleading, I occasionally do get out of my neighbors’ pool and on the river in my OC-1. I ain’t great shakes with a stick but I do okay. Next up on the agenda is a sea kayaking class Joan and I will be taking in Michigan. It would be nice to find something we could and would do together

My COP agenda is to maintain the quality of the boating program and make some improvements along the way to better meet the needs of our present and future boaters. I'm also looking for a replacement for me in the next year or so, who will do a better job of running things than I have. Any takers?
 

Fall Water Releases

We have received confirmation of fall reservoir releases from ODNR.

*Pleasant Hill Reservoir will release October 9 and 10.  CANCELLED
*Paint Creek Reservoir will release November 13 and 14.  CANCELLED

The ODNR policy is essentially that no reservoir water is released unless approved training and education courses are taking place during the release. We will be scheduling classes for these releases and looking for instructors to help assist.
 

Basic Kayak Clinic – Oct. 23 & 24

Yes, one more opportunity to learn to kayak this year!  We have a release on Caesar Creek and want to teach you the FUNdamentals of kayaking.  This clinic is designed for those interested in learning basic kayak strokes and maneuvers on moving water.  No kayaking or other boating experience is required for the clinic.

We will spend the weekend at Caesar Creek State Park in southwest Ohio.  The clinic will be held on both Saturday and Sunday; however, students have the option of attending one or both days.  Please note that Sunday-only availability is contingent upon the number of Saturday-only and two-day students.

The cost of the school is $20 per day for members, $25 per day for non-members and will cover instruction only.  Since this will be a clinic and not a school, food, transportation, and lodging (if staying overnight) is not included.  Add an additional $10 per day for equipment rental, if available.

(Note: the potential exists for the cancellation of the Caesar Creek water release.  If this occurs, the Clinic would also be canceled and a full refund would be issued to all paid applicants.)

The application for the Basic Kayak Clinic will appear in the October COP newsletter and is currently available on the COP web site.  Contact Sharon Hsu (459-6586 or hsus (AT) nationwide.com) for further information.
 

Darby Creek Day

This is an annual festival celebrating Darby Creek. The event is cosponsored by the Darby Creek Association and Columbus Metro Parks at the Indian Ridge Picnic Area at Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park. Sunday, October 3 is the date and the activities run from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can learn about flyfishing, watch a fish electroshocking demo, toss an atlatl, learn about bats, mussels, mammals, and birds. Metro Parks will be supervising canoeing and COP will be providing a kayaking experience. We do need a few volunteers to help staff a table with COP information and help run the kayak portion. Please contact me if you can help with either of these activities.

BOAT SHED WORKERS

Usually we feature one person an issue who has helped the COP boating program become better. This time around, I wanted to point out the folks who helped paint the boat shed. It looks great! You can see who was there in the hot sun (still remember June?). Thanks to all who helped. Incidentally, I put one of the cable locks on the shed door since the last lock failed. If you need the combo. give me a call.

Sharon Hsu, Katharine Harding, Paul McPherson, Kirk Hartkmeyer, Dan Hartkmeyer, Rick Kritzer, Stanley Gift, and Ann Badger.  (And don't forget Jon Blake, the roofer, and John Lane, the organizer.)
 

FRANKLIN COUNTY WATERSHED GROUPS

This information is from the MORPC newsletter "Greenspace". You've read about FLOW, Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed and FACT, Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries in the COP newsletter. "Greenspace" lists several other watershed protection groups. Thought I'd list them here in case you want to contact them for membership or other information.
Friends of Blacklick Creek, John Saveson, 8370 Clouse Rd, New Albany, OH 43054, 614-855-9809, 740-881-4227
Scioto River Valley Federation, Jeff Skelding, River Steward, P.O. Box 150, Delaware, OH 43015
Big Walnut Creek Water Quality Partnership, Dan Binder City of Columbus, WQAL, 910 Dublin Rd., Columbus, OH 43215, 614-645-7691
Darby Creek Association, Paul Dumouchelle, 8832 Naim Ct., Dublin, OH 43017, 614-761-1247
Rocky Fork Protection Task Force, Paul Gledhill, 6180 Arnett Rd., Westerville, OH 43081, 614-895-8353
Walnut Action Group, Perry Omforff, NRCO, 831 College Avenue, Suite B, Lancaster, OH 43130, 740-653-5320

In addition, the Franklin County Board of Health has conducted stream clean ups for Earth Day each of the last two years. Dry Run Creek and Brown Run Creek were the first targets, these are tribs of the Scioto. I've asked that COP be put on the mailing list for next year's effort and hope to have the Earth Day 2000 stream clean up advertised in advance so you can participate.
 

FALL WATER RELEASES

We have received confirmation of fall reservoir releases from ODNR. Pleasant Hill Reservoir CANCELLED will release October 9 and 10.  Paint Creek Reservoir will release November 13 and 14. The ODNR policy is essentially that no reservoir water is released unless approved training and education courses are taking place during the release, We will be scheduling classes for these releases and looking for instructors to help assist.
 

OHCRA, THEY'LL DO IT AGAIN

OHCRA, the Ohio Historical Canoe Route Association, Inc., featured before in our newsletter, formed in 1983 to retrace early travels of native Americans from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. In 2003, OHCRA plans another state crossing. The route will start upstream on the Sandusky River with a portage to the Little Scioto and follow the Scioto River to Portsmouth. From Fremont to Columbus, the route will be done on weekends and the segment from Columbus to Portsmouth will be done in one continuous week. Period dress will be worn during any ceremonies conducted along the way. Late May through July is the timeframe. Four weekends plus the final week should cover the trip. If you're interested:Paul Wood 419-332-6970, Dave Caplinger 937-393-2739
 

MOLDY BOAT MOLDS

At one time, boaters built their own kayaks, using AYH molds. I have stored the molds for 20+ years and they have never been used since placing them out in the woods. Anyone want them? I have no idea of condition but it's time to move them out. Suggest place in front yard and plant flowers in them - or what your imagination sees as a use. Quite decorative and have historical value. Take one or all away by Oct. 31, 1999 or it's off to the landfill. Interested? Call Dick Seiple at 614-889-8294 or email: cseiple (AT) gcfn.org
 

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE by Gail Falkinburg

Guy Sheaffer coordinated Red, White, And Boom again this year. Everyone enjoys this event. Our boating program offers the perfect way to enjoy fire works. Guy and others were so gracious to those who needed help. You can bring a picnic or walk to the village for dinner. Be sure and add this to your list of things to do next year. By the way, the boaters do welcome rain dances in dry years.

RIVERFEST '99

Saturday, June 5, was Riverfest ’99.  Sponsored by MORPC and the Greenways Coalition, it was a day to celebrate and learn about the waterways of central Ohio.  Tours of the Delaware Municipal Wastewater treatment plant, a state of the art facility, were given.  Besides picnics and other festivities, two watchdog groups ran river trips to show the waterways they protect.  FLOW, Friends of the Lower Olentangy, took 8 COP canoes for a paddle.  Jim Fronk and Paul McPherson were the COP volunteers who helped make the FLOW canoe float a success.

FAC, Friends of Alum Creek, hosted a gathering at the Rosemont Center to show off the creek.  They offered seining and fishing and COP was involved with the boating part of their program.  Jon Blake and John Lane took Rosemont Center kids out in COP rafts to explore the creek.  About twenty kids got a chance to paddle and play in the Creek.  Thanks to the COP volunteers who helped and to FLOW and FAC for being there and helping the community know more about the waters of life that run through our community.
 

RED, WHITE AND BOOM UPDATE

A note from the editor and the boating chair.  There has been some confusion about the dates for Red, White and Boom in our schedule.  It will be on Friday, July 2.  We hope it hasn’t caused any inconvenience.
 

DO YOU KNOW ... TOM ...?

You probably haven’t seen him in a canoe or a ducky or a raft or on many of our boating trips, but Tom .... plays an integral role in the life of our boating program.

The .... family owned a big chunk of land years ago on the east side of town.  The farm changed hands and eventually fell as a smaller parcel back into the family.  Tom reigns over this parcel that is home to several houses, garages, acres of black top and hundreds of pine trees.

Nestled in this little bit of heaven is the boat shed.  COP boats of one type or another have found refuge on his property for almost forty years.  A canoe rack, two trailers and a shed that holds PFD’s, paddles and other boating miscellany take up a chunk of space.  Without Tom’s gracious, rent-free ground, our boating gear would be dispersed to the winds - or at least to many basements around town.  We’re in the process of upgrading the shed to match all the improvements Tom is making to the property.  More on that story later.  Thanks to Tom for all he’s done to contribute to the success of our boating program.  As a reminder, please make sure your comings and goings to the shed are during daylight hours.
 

A BIG THANKS to the folks who helped out at the boat shed last Sunday: Dan and Kirk Hartkemeyer, Paul McPherson, Ann Badger, Stanley Gift, and Katharine
Harding.
 

FRIENDS OF ALUM CREEK AND TRIBUTARIES (FACT)

FACT is a volunteer watershed advocacy group, one of several formed in central Ohio in recent years.  FACT celebrated its first Riverfest Saturday, June 5 with the help of Columbus Outdoor Pursuits’ John Lane.  The group inflated and launched 3 large rafts on Alum Creek, north of Mock Road at the Rosemont Center, cosponsor of the event.  Over 30 children and adults paddled upstream and enjoyed the secluded tree-shaded waterway.  FACT’s Riverfest also featured stream walking and seining to learn about plants and animals and the small creatures that inhabit the creek and are indicators of water quality and stream health.  There were fishing poles for those, mostly the children, trying to land some of Alum Creek’s fish.

For those who identify Alum Creek only as a state park (like the Channel 6 crew who went first to Alum Creek State Park before finding the FACT event) the event proved to be a useful educational tool.  In fact, Alum Creek flows almost 20 miles through Franklin County.  FACT is primarily concerned with the segment of the creek, from below the dam north of Westerville to its confluence with Big Walnut Creek at the new Three Creeks Metropark in southeast Columbus.  The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and Ohio Environmental Council were instrumental in helping to form FACT in 1998.  MORPC encouraged each of the local watershed advocacy groups to hold a Riverfest event on June 5 or 6 to draw attention to the existence of our central Ohio streams and the need to protect them.  FACT greatly appreciates the help and participation of Columbus Outdoor Pursuits.

DO YOU KNOW ... MARK STEINMETZ?

Mark began paddling as a flatwater open canoeist about five years ago without benefit of instruction. He lost his whitewater virginity on the Upper New River and got infected bad with boating disease. Got a kayak, got some instruction from our friend Bob Pfister and videos and hooked up with COP by chance at an Alum Creek roll session where someone taught him to roll. He paddled the Olentangy and Paint Creek that winter before Dave Seslar mentored him on one of his famous Pennsylvania Icebreaker trips. Soon after, Mark notched the Lower Yough, Lower New, Middle Ocoee and Lower Gauley into his spray skirt.

Mark gives a nod to COP members and their guidance, companionship and encouragement as a large factor in his development as a paddler. He has been giving back to the group as a roll session leader and as a new trip leader. He has plans to develop trips to rivers not traditionally run by COP. Professionally, Mark a photo editor for McGraw-Hill. I don't know what that means but I bet it's the source of his near-photographic memory of river features. He can tell you about drops and ledges and holes on many regional rivers, whether he's run them or not!

It will be Mark's joy to become the COP Boater Librarian. His duty will be to inventory and manage our collection of books, maps, videos, etc. All because he kept asking me what we had and I didn't, and still don't, know. Mark will be calling known harborers of film and print boating media. He will also be open for suggestions for purchase of new instructional materials. If you have a suggestion for books, videos and other items for our boating education effort, feel free to bug him! Fueled by curiosity and bags of strange meats and nuts as well as vegetarian combos that look like mangos and cucumbers marinated in wet suit sweat, Mark has developed himself into a paddler and an asset to COP!     by: John Lane
 

CRAPPER CAPER CONQUERS!

Thanks to Deb Clayton for finding an old check intended for the Crapper Caper Campaign and sending it in. Total now stands at $1041.

Things are finally smelling rosy for the Yough Stop portable toilets! The township supervisors finally agreed to stop pursuing COP installing a septic system at the Yough Stop. They have also okayed us putting in new units. Look for them sometime this summer.

We also owe a thank you to Tony Luscher, a COP member and OSU mechanical engineering professor and to Mike Duck, president of PolyPortables, Inc., of Dahlonega, GA.  Tony's students have been doing project work involving portable toilet recycling and he was able to get a donated portable toilet from PolyPortables.  Thank you Tony & Mike!
 

YOUGH STOP NEEDS A STOVE

Anyone with an electric stove to donate???? The Yough Stop stove is limping along on one burner, the oven portion has a mind of its own and we're getting tired of the smell of mouse urine when it heats up. If you are redoing your kitchen or someone else's, give me a call and I'll pick it up. Thanks. John Lane 486-4548 lane.30 (AT) osu.edu
 

FIRST AID & WHITEWATER RESCUE

The best reason boating rarely posts a profit is that we plow money back into the program. Schools and trips make a little bit and then we spend it on equipment and training. Most recently, COP helped support the following boating leaders in American Red Cross Standard First Aid and River Rescue for Paddlers from the ODNR Div. of Watercraft. The ODNR class is recognized nationally. Congrats to the following: ODNR River Rescue - Tim Brown, John Markie, Jeff Haven, Ernie Pfund, Mike Pfund, Beth Weaver, Steve Howell, Richard McKinley, Bill McKinley, Stanley Gift. ARC SFA - John Markiel, Lori Marklel, Kevin Troutman, Eileen Troutman, Jennifer Thurman, Paul McPherson, Jon Blake, Rollo Marchant, Jeff Haven, and George Kostura
 

INTERMEDIATE KAYAK SCHOOL - JULY 23-25,1999

This is your LAST CHANCE to take a COP kayak school in this millennium! We're gonna kayak like its 1999! (oh wait, it is 1999.) Anyway, this school is for kayakers with previous experience who are interested in up-grading their skills to start running more challenging rivers. We will spend the weekend paddling in WV and/or PA. Students should be comfortable with all of the basic paddle strokes and basic river maneuvers such as eddy turns and ferries. While a roll is not mandatory, why not work on it this summer at the COP roll sessions at the Alum Creek Beach (see the schedule for days & time). The application will be in the July newsletter. For more info.: Sharon Hsu: 459-6586 hsus (AT) nationwlde.com

INTERMEDIATE CANOE SCHOOL - JUNE 11, 12 & 13

Intermediate Canoe School is designed for the canoeist with previous river experience and who is interested in upgrading and polishing their skills and making the transition from running Ohio streams to larger, whitewater rivers.

We will spend the weekend paddling in West Virginia and/or Pennslyvania. Students should be comfortable with all of the basic paddle strokes and with river manuevers such as ferries, eddy-turns, and surfing.

The school is designed to accomodate people interested in soloing or paddling tandem. It is recommended that soloists have their own boats.

The cost of the school is $85 for COP members and $100.00 for non-members. This covers transportation, meals (Saturday & Sunday breakfast and Saturday dinner), equipment rental, and lodging.

To register, call Eileen Troutman (work ) 566-9889 or (home) 740/392-3138. The payment deadline is June 2. Refunds for cancellations will be given until that date; after that, the food will be bought and refunds will not be given.
 

NORTH BRANCH POTOMAC RELEASES

The following weekends have been tentatively set for releases from Jennings Randolph Dam (aka Bloomington Dam) on the North Branch of the Potomac: May 1, 2 -- May 15 ,16 -- May 29, 30. Expect releases of 850-1000 cfs each day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Keep in mind that a dry Spring could result in cutbacks or cancellation and, with the low state of the reservoir from the 1998 drought, conditions this year are particularly uncertain. Always call beforehand at 410/962-7687 or check the Army Corps website at http://nab71.nab-wc.usace.army.mil/

Very important: The popular parking lot at the takeout, in front of the two-story brick building, is private property. Please take care not to block the driveway to the back of the building (not even to unload) or change clothes in the open or anything else to offend the tolerant owner. Poor behavior by some in 1997 almost cost us the use of the lot. The put-in is on federal land and rangers charge an access fee per paddler. The shuttle is approximately 20 minutes each way. The run is along the WV/MD border, 80 minute drive from the Yough Stop. The takout is at the confluence with the Savage River.

Information provided by Tim Brown. Contact him for more info and trip possibilities at 513/829-8110.
 

RIVER FEST '99

Mark your calendars. Riverfest ’99 is the weekend of June 5th. Every watershed group in Franklin County will hold an event that weekend to celebrate the rivers of Central Ohio. Through the collaborative effort, including help from the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission, it is hoped that Riverfest ’99 will generate sweeping media coverage.

Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) has three activities planned for Sat. June 5th of the Riverfest ’99 weekend. Citizens and families can choose an activity or come to all three. There is an educational component, a picnic, a hike, and, a canoe float. The first activity begins at 10:30 at the Delaware Wastewater Treatment Plant where a guided tour will be given. At 12:00 there will be a picnic and guided nature hike at Highbanks Metro Park. Last, at 3:00 there will be a canoe float (location to be announced) in conjunction with Columbus Outdoor Pursuits. For more information, contact Amanda Davey at 268-5821.

12/15/99